Our Mission
AGAPE demonstrates the Truth and unconditional love of Jesus in a safe and confidential environment to women, men, and families experiencing pregnancy or the effects of sexual relationships.
“For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16
“Yet You brought me out of the womb; You made me trust in You even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother’s womb You have been my God.” Psalm 22:9
Welcome!
Dear Friends,
Welcome! I’m so glad you found our website today!
Since 1985, AGAPE has faithfully served the people of the Des Moines area—offering hope, support, and care through the front lines of pregnancy services and beyond. For nearly four decades, we’ve walked alongside individuals and families with compassion and grace, meeting both immediate and long-term needs.
We are filled with gratitude when we see how God continues to expand AGAPE’s impact through our faithful contributors, staff and volunteers. Today, AGAPE offers pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and STD testing, along with expanded life-skills classes, job training, and holistic family support. Our goal is not only to help in crisis moments, but also to equip families for lasting stability and hope-filled futures.
By God’s grace, AGAPE is flourishing. Each day we see His hand at work as we serve Him by loving others and shining the light of Christ in our community. The peace and love of Jesus are tangible here—people feel it the moment they walk through our doors.
To our faithful donors, volunteers, and prayer partners: thank you. You are the burden bearers who make this work possible. Your generosity, prayers, and time fuel the mission and extend God’s love to those who need it most.
I can’t wait to see what God will do next. Thank you for joining us on this journey of hope and transformation!
In His service,
Leanna
Executive Director
Team Members
Leanna has been at Agape since 2019. She is passionate about serving Christ anywhere that He calls her to serve. She desires to seek and serve the hurting and minister to the most vulnerable of individuals. There is no one more vulnerable in our world today than the unborn. If in any way she can be a voice or an advocate to save one life, it is worth a lifetime of ministry and investment.
Christina joined the Agape team in 2020 overseeing the social services department. Having been placed for adoption as an infant, she is so thankful that her birth mother chose life for her. She feels blessed to be able to serve the Lord while using her education and background in social services and crisis counseling. Her desire is to display the hope and restoration that she has experienced in her own life through her relationship with Jesus Christ.
Rebekah joined the AGAPE team as the Director of Marketing & Communications in 2026. She has a personal mission to be a voice for the voiceless and an advocate for the most vulnerable. The mission, work, and team at AGAPE has always inspired her. She is so grateful to be joining this important work!
Chris has been at Agape since 2026. He is passionate about coming alongside men and families as they take steps to overcome whatever challenges they face. As a husband, father, and elder in his local church, he knows life isn't always easy, but he has experienced the power and hope that comes through the Gospel. After moving to Iowa without family or friends, Chris recognized the critical need for community. He has spent nearly two decades building a support network to share with fathers seeking connection and belonging.
Emily joined the AGAPE team in the spring of 2022. With Emily’s diverse background, she has used what she has learned, her passions, and her talents in serving the Lord at AGAPE. Her favorite part of working with families facing unplanned pregnancies is connecting with them through authentic relationship, while providing tangible support, resources, and skills to grow in their role as parents.
Shelly joined the AGAPE team in the fall of 2025 to oversee clinical services. Because of her own experience of loss, grief, and healing, she became a nurse to meet others during their times of pain. During her time of extreme loss, she asked God: “How could you take the one person who knew me best and loved me most?” She then heard Him say, “I know you best and love you most. I will never leave you.” She feels honored to be able to sit and meet people the way that Christ met her when she was broken and alone.
Tim joined AGAPE in March 2025. He is grateful for the opportunity to work as the business manager, sharing his experience in corporate and non-profit sectors of administration and information technology. Tim's testimony of meeting and submitting to Jesus Christ is grounded on the priority of family as instituted by our Creator. Tim's desire is to serve the Lord by supporting the AGAPE team as it carries out the valuable mission of serving women, men, and families in central Iowa.
Katlin joined the AGAPE team in the summer of 2022. She is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute with a B.A. in Pre-Counseling and Bible and Minor in Theology. She aims to weave these passions together to see all people come to know Jesus as the only One who saves and satisfies. Katlin believes healing and growth are possible for every person, regardless of their walk of life and is thankful to serve the Lord at AGAPE.
Brenda joined the Agape team as the Spanish Care Coordinator in 2024. She has a personal mission to meet people using her ethnic background and language to serve in any way that the Lord provides. The mission and work of Agape speak both to her heart and the life-changing power of her Savior. She is so grateful to be joining this important work!
Tessa joined the AGAPE team in the summer of 2026. One of her greatest passions in life is walking alongside people during difficult seasons. She is honored to be able to use this passion in serving the women and families at AGAPE through compassionate care and sharing the ultimate healing power of Jesus Christ.
Cathy joined the AGAPE team in the winter of 2025. She knows firsthand how Jesus can break the shackles of shame and exchange them for the peace of His presence. Cathy has a heart of compassion for those who walk through AGAPE’s doors, as their stories are like her own. She is grateful that God has brought her to AGAPE to witness to His power to free every captive.
Crystal joined the Agape team in the fall of 2020 as a clinic nurse. She has been a nurse for over 13 years and has enjoyed working in a variety of different clinical settings, learning a lot from each experience. She has been grateful for each experience, but none of them have spoken to her heart as much as the organizational mission of Agape Pregnancy Resource Center. After reading about the mission, she knew that she wanted to be a part of this family and serve in this capacity. She considers it a blessing to be able to pour her nursing skills, education, and experiences into helping those who are vulnerable and hurting and show them the unconditional love of Jesus and the support they need.
Gary joined the Agape team in 2024. He is passionate about finding ways to meet the needs of individuals in moments of crisis and offering Jesus as the ultimate answer in life. Gary has been a pastor for many years, serving in churches and care ministries beyond the local church. His desire is to activate people of faith in Christ to connect their beliefs to Christ-like actions.
Board of Directors
Zach joined the Agape Board of Directors in 2024. His passion for prolife ministry came from having a family with adopted siblings. This has made a big impact on his life personally. Supporting families in their times of need is a great opportunity to invest in the local community, positively impact others, and glorify God.
Paul joined the Agape Board of Director in 2017. Paul is passionate about the mission and ministry of showing the unconditional love of Christ to all the lost. Having the opportunity to enable the staff and volunteers to speak the truths of the gospel brings him great joy. He is constantly amazed at the work that goes on at Agape and the daily impact that the ministry has on people's lives, in a very individual and personal way.
Dennis Mueller joined the Board of Directors in 2022. He recently retired from his 50-year career as a CPA and felt that the Lord was leading him to use his time in meaningful ways to further the “works of His hands.”
Because of his longstanding relationship with Agape, volunteerism had crossed his mind, but he was unsure of how he could contribute so he waited and prayed for the Lord’s leading. Then the phone rang…and Denny answered not only “the call” but the call to join the board of directors. He considers the work of Agape to be a mission that Christ is a part of every day. Denny felt as if he was waiting for the call to be activated for Christ, and he is more than honored to join Him in this work.
Because of his longstanding relationship with Agape, volunteerism had crossed his mind, but he was unsure of how he could contribute so he waited and prayed for the Lord’s leading. Then the phone rang…and Denny answered not only “the call” but the call to join the board of directors. He considers the work of Agape to be a mission that Christ is a part of every day. Denny felt as if he was waiting for the call to be activated for Christ, and he is more than honored to join Him in this work.
Josh joined the Board of Directors in the fall of 2026. His life Bible verse is I Corinthians 2:5: “That your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” Josh’s passion is to be a part of a ministry that shares the Good News of the gospel. Pointing people to Christ and protecting life is what the ministry of AGAPE is all about and he is honored to be a part of it through serving on the Board!
Julie joined the Agape Board of Directors in 2024. The mission of Agape resonates with her on a personal level, having found herself in an unplanned pregnancy as a teenager. After coming to Christ, her greatest realization was that she is both fully known and loved by God, no matter her past. She can now see all the ways God has protected and provided for her and her family. She is honored to be able to serve God through her time and testimony in this way for His eternal glory.
Doug joined the Board of Directors in the spring of 2020. He is passionate about service and has used his abilities and talents at Agape in the areas of construction, project management, and renovations. He is excited to be a part of a ministry that supports the stance for life and offers love, grace, and the ultimate Truth of the gospel to every person who walks through our doors.
Advisors
Dr. Stephen Feltz, MD
Medical Advisor
Andy Karas
Legal Advisor
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